| dc.description.abstract | Where women are honoured there reside the gods' was said by Manu. In India,
women have made a considerable progress and have proved themselves by
conducting the worldly affairs efficiently and effectively over the periods, but still
they are deprived of their rights of equality with men. Their status has deteriorated
due to various social, economic, cultural and religious factors. This status of
women continued for quite a long time, until some social reformers like Ishwar
Chandra Vidyasagar, Raja Rammohan Roy and Swami Dayanand Saraswati of
Arya Samaj and Brahmo Samaj stood against the brutality and the grave injustice
which was being done against the women. Child Marriage, Sati Pratha, Pardah,
Confinement to home and non-inclusion of females in day to day affairs were the
examples of women suppression. Women have not been able to achieve an equal
status and equal opportunity for themselves due to various reasons. Their
representation in politics and various public offices has remained nominal. Women
have contributed equally in the Struggle for Independence. At the advent of
Independence, provisions were made for equal status of women in Indian
Constitution. On the same lines, the provisions of women reservation in local
bodies were made, so that women make their presence felt in local bodies in India
and are a part of decision making process at the grass root level. Studies have
shown that even after having reservation in local bodies, women are still not active
and their husbands or other male relatives are actively involved in using their
positions and they are only rubber stamps. The present study strives to find out
the reasons behind the meagre representation of woman in political arena. The
study has tried to find out the representation of women, their educational
background, reason for coming to the public life and avenues wherein they could
do better to serve the people of their constituency in a better way. For the present
study, Bathinda City has been selected and Bathinda Municipal Corporation
(BMC), which is a local governance body, has been chosen. For this purpose, a
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detailed schedule has been prepared to understand the above given aspects from
the municipal councillors of BMC. The data collected through the schedules have
been analysed and the results have been interpreted. It was observed that women
are coming in local governance due to the reservations but are more dependent
upon their family members to perform the election and governance related
activities | en_US |
